Nurse under fire for pics of patient on Facebook

TAIPEI -- A nurse at a hospital in eastern Taiwan has invited accusations of privacy violation for posting photos of a heart surgery patient on her Facebook page.

In a front-page story published Thursday, the Apple Daily quoted an official from the Taiwan Healthcare Reform Foundation as condemning the act, which he said demonstrates a lack of empathy and respect for patients' privacy.

Although the photos were taken down within hours once the controversy broke, the Taitung branch of Mackay Memorial Hospital said it has instructed the nurse to submit a report on the incident and will hold a meeting to discuss possible punishment for her.

The photos, which depict the patient covered with bandages and intubated, were taken by the nurse on her mobile phone immediately after a four-hour surgical procedure on Tuesday, the hospital said after an initial investigation.

I cannot believe that during the operation the nurse was allowed to take the phone with her. It's not her first time I think she did that. What kind of nurse or person is she? Unkind person that she is and embarrasses all those who are working in that hospital and humiliates all her coworker nurses... such behavior is unethical and the people should condemn her and punish her and put her in a mental hospital.